To think that sunscreen is toxic?

[Pitbull]

Some women proudly say they wear sunscreen every day even in the winter. But isn't it kind of toxic? If you think about it sunscreen is loaded with chemicals. The ingredient list is full of long, unpronounceable names. Why would you wear it on your face all the time? When I put spf on my face when it's really hot and sunny I obviously avoid the eye and mouth area. Yet, within about twenty minutes my eyes start watering, and I feel a toxic chemical taste in my mouth. Which means it seeps through my pores deeper into the skin and some of it gets into the bloodstream, and via the blood vessels they go everywhere. Yuk. Why would you wear a toxic mix on your face every day?

On a dull, very cloudy or rainy day I wouldn't wear sunscreen, because I would like some vitamin C ( I don't want osteoporosis either) and yes, think the chemicals may outway anything else. But in the Summer I generally try to remember to wear it. If on hols somewhere hot always wear sunscreen.

Of course things you put on your skin aborbed into your blood stream. How else do nicotine or morphine patches work. There are lots of concerns about the products used on the skin and researchers basically don't know the long term effect of using sun cream daily over years as it is a relatively new fashion. It is far safer to use it less unless you are unavoidably in direct sun for prolonged periods.

Where does it say that sun creams are toxic? I'd genuinely like to know. Because health and safety is so manic these days that I'd find it very odd if the powers that be just allowed everybody to go around slathering poison onto their faces every day.

To be honest I do kind of see your point OP, but I think chemicals in every day products are extremely difficult to avoid in this day and age - it would take some serious research and time to live a totally chemical free life - from the preservatives in your loaf of bread to the car fumes in the air you breathe, these things are very difficult to avoid.

I mean Vitamin D!! Not C!!

I don't suppose you take any medicines then either? They are all full of unpronounceable chemicals.

My foundation has a spf 15 so my face is protected all year round. The eat of my body is covered in winter

I agree so use a more natural non toxic variety. Problem is not a lot of people are aware there is an alternative. No need to take the piss out of the op.

Rahee - I've never come across sunscreen wearers in the winter, definitely no point where I live in the U.K.

OP- you do realise that everything is chemicals, don't you?

Don't you??

When I run and sweat it makes my eyes water. My own sweat! And I don't wear make up or moisturiser, so just sweat. I am toxic!

Don't use it then, survival of the fittest (brightest) and all that.

My foundation has a spf 15 so my face is protected all year round.

The British association of dermatologists doesn't recommend relying on spf in foundation or moisturiser because it's so difficult to use enough to get adequate protection and you're more likely to forget to reapply it. They recommend a separate suncream.

What are the natural sun screen alternatives? I've not heard of them.

It's usually coconut oil magic.

I used to totally agree with the OP. It can't possibly be good for you slathering your skin with all those long names every day. And vitamin D is kind of important. And I live in Scotland FFS.

One malignant melanoma and a basal cell carcinoma later I religiously apply high factor sunscreen between march and October (and low factor through winter,) and supplement vitD.

Actually Scarlett most high street suncreams are toxic - they are listed as such

Well, I'm not planning on drinking them! Where is this toxic list please?

And, define toxic? If you inhale water it will kill you. If you ingest too much water it will kill you. Is water toxic?

Better avoid apples

I'd worry more about getting no vitamin d if wore it always? I wear it if it's summer and hot and might burn.

I'd worry more about getting no vitamin d if wore it always? I wear it if it's summer and hot and might burn

You can supplement vitD. You don't need to burn to get cancer.

NowtAbout Im in the UK too and we dont wear it apart from when its too warm and the suns blazing

"What are the natural sun screen alternatives? I've not heard of them."

Wide-brimmed hat, cravat/high collar/opaque scarf wound round neck. Long sleeve shirt in close weave fabric. Full length trousers in close weave fabric, socks and shoes. Add parasol, and try to stay in between 11:00 and 15:00.

Skin cancer isn't a nice thing to have

The toxicity wouldn't worry me, but the lack of Vitamin D would, we don't get enough of it during winter as it is.

It also depends on what kind of suncreen you use, doesn't it? Have you ever tried one for sensitive skin? Especially made for the face/eye area?

What about at least (...) using bb cream/foundation with suncreen, if you do wear that?

I use it on most days. I do leave it off on those really really dark and cloudy/wet winder days...

But I do take a vitamin d supplement (also because I work indoors...)

I hate the line 'you do realise everything is made up of chemicals' as if that means questioning pharmaceutical companies ingredients list makes you an intolerant lentil weaving herbal tea fanatic.

Do you also realise some chemicals are not meant to be absorbed into the body and are carcinogenic. And the effects of many more chemicals on the incredibly complex human body are just not understood. Particularly repeated doses over a long period of time resulting in an accumulation. Additionally the combination of all the different products we use and their chemicals are most certainly not understood. The OP is not the naive one, we all are.

Yes sunscreens do contain some nasty chemicals, yes we all know we're made up of chemicals but clearly some chemicals are toxic to humans and some are not. There are chemical free sunscreens available, they're mineral based and basically like barrier creams like This one. My DS is allergic to parabens so we use paraben free toiletries, sunscreen etc, and of course anything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, otherwise dermal patches and various topical mediations wouldn't really work would they?